Credit

Caption

Supercell thunderstorm. Lightning strike within a supercell thunderstorm. Supercell thunderstorms are severe long-lived storms within which the wind speed and direction changes with height. This produces a strong rotating updraft of warm air, known as a mesocyclone, and a separate downdraft of cold air. Tornadoes may form in the mesocyclone, in which case the storm is classified as a tornadic supercell thunderstorm. These storms also produce torrential rain and hail. Photographed over Black Hills, South Dakota, USA.